Interactive timeline: Muzzling of federal scientists 2012-15

PHOTO: Zack Embree

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

The past few years in Canada have seen continued funding cutbacks for federal science programs and policies preventing scientists from freely communicating their findings. In our 2013-14 Review of Free Expression in Canada, we highlighted a number of important events in the muzzling of federal scientists, building on a timeline tracking incidents as of 2012.

Key points include:

• A code of conduct issued in 2013 prevents librarians from engaging in “high risk activities” such as speaking in classrooms and at conferences without first obtaining managers’ approval.

• The shutdown of multiple government libraries in 2013 resulted in the destruction of irreplaceable and important documents.

• A survey by the PIPSC found that 90% of government scientists do not feel they could speak freely about their work.

Scroll through the interactive timeline below to learn more about research funding and freedom of expression for scientists in Canada from 2012-15.